15

Fifteen Years Old

I KICK A ROCK, sending it a few feet down the road, the length of two whole houses. Moriah and Ophelia walk on either side of me. Moriah smirks as we pass the rock. "Might be a new record."

"You think so?" I'm hopeful she's impressed. Lately, things between us have been different. Subtle touches. Flirting.

As we've grown closer, I've realized how amazing Moriah is. She's super smart, always taking the advanced classes at school and joining in loads of extracurricular activities. She's also nice, funny, and she laughs at all my jokes. She makes me feel like the sun is always shining.

She laughs. "It could be. But is rock-kicking even a thing to break records for?"

"I could make it into something," I say slyly, giving her my most winning grin.

Ophelia breaks away from us. "I'm going to head home. I just remembered I have a lot of homework."

Moriah frowns. "So do we. But who cares right now?"

I can tell homework isn't the problem. Ophelia and I have a bond that's different. We can sense when something's wrong with the other.

I grab her wrist gently. "Are you sure? I can walk you home."

She shakes her head. "It's okay."

Her home is around the corner. I turn to Moriah. "I'll be right back."

Ophelia has already begun walking, but I catch up to her. "Hey," I say gently. "You can talk to me. But you also don't have to."

She doesn't say anything. Not at first. We reach her driveway and she turns to me. "Thanks for bringing me home."

"Ophelia… I know it's not about homework."

She doesn't meet my eyes. "Sometimes it is just about homework, Atlas."

"Yeah, but you're always ahead in school. Obviously, something is bothering you."

"I'm tired. Sometimes I miss when it was just the two of us. It's getting a bit exhausting keeping up with both of you. I'll be fine. Have fun with Moriah."

Before I can argue, Ophelia walks away, disappearing inside. I hesitate, not wanting things to end like that. But I don't want to leave Moriah waiting in the street for me.

I run back; Moriah's already gone. I look around. Finally, I realize she probably didn't wait and headed to the snow cone stand without me.

By the time I arrive, she's holding two blue ones. "Figured I'd get here and order." She hands me the snow cone and we take a seat on one of the park benches. "Is Ophelia okay?"

"Oh, yeah. She really was stressed about homework," I lie. I don't want to tell Moriah what Ophelia said. Maybe to protect Moriah. Maybe to protect Ophelia.

"So, the spring dance is coming up," Moriah starts. "Have you considered who you're going to ask?"

I shrug. "I hadn't put much thought into it. I mean, I'll definitely be going. But I figured it would be with a group of my friends. What about you? Has anyone asked you yet?"

"Yeah, I've had a couple of guys ask, but not the one I'm hoping will ask me."

I take a taste of my snow cone. "Maybe you can ask him? I don't think that's a big deal. And honestly, I may just ask Ophelia. I've been through school dances before, but she may be a bit nervous."

Moriah nods, but there's a guarded look on her face. "That's true. I think it would look cute if you and Ophelia went together. You'd make a great couple."

I almost choke on my treat, which doesn't even seem possible. "Couple? I meant going as friends. You could join us, if you'd like. Ophelia's my best friend. I wouldn't be taking her as a romantic date."

Moriah shrugs. "It's pretty normal if friends catch feelings for each other."

"Yeah, of course. But that's not the case with me and Ophelia. I just wanted to support her through her first year at high school. It gets pretty rough when you're new to all the different things. And she's tough—don't get me wrong. But I also don't think I want to take a date to the dance. It's not that important to me."

I'm rambling, only because the concept of dating Ophelia has made me nervous. I've never really thought of Ophelia that way. I mean… maybe at times I've thought she was pretty. But it's never been much of a consistent thought in my mind.

If anything, I may be developing a crush on Moriah. But I definitely don't want to deal with that right now.

Moriah takes another lick of her snow cone. "Well, if you're sure, we can go as three friends. Makes it easier for me. It means I can dance with lots of guys."

"I thought you had a specific guy you wanted to go with?"

"Yeah, but I'm sure he'll be there. I can dance with him at some point."

She's so casual about the whole thing. I appreciate that it's not a big deal to her. "Okay. Then we'll go as friends. I'll tell Ophelia later."

I finish my snow cone first, but I wait for Moriah to finish hers. Then I walk her home. "I'll see you at school," she says with a smile.

As I walk back towards the street I need to take to head to my house, I turn the other way and go to the street Ophelia lives on.

I knock on her door and she answers, but instead of her usual smile, she looks tired. "What's up?"

Everything is awkward. Not half an hour ago, Ophelia told me how she's tired of it being the three of us. And now I've gone and made a plan for all three of us to go as a friend group to the dance.

"Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you."

I shake my head, turning and taking a seat on the porch swing Ophelia's dad installed a long time ago.

Back when her mom was probably still around.

Ophelia sits next to me. "What's wrong?"

"I made plans for the three of us to go to the dance… after you said you're tired of it being the three of us."

Ophelia smiles. "Well, as long as you don't try to dance with both of us at the same time, I think I'll survive."

"I don't know. Maybe we can do ring around the rosy."

She laughs, but her smile fades quickly. "I've never been to a dance. I don't really know if I want to go at all."

"Well, I won't force you to go. But it would be fun if you could."

"I've had a few guys ask me to go, so I probably should make an appearance."

"Wait, you've been asked? I didn't even consider that. I should've talked with you first before making all these plans. Moriah…" I trail off. Sighing, I continue, "Moriah was saying the guy she really wanted to go with didn't ask her, so I was just trying to cheer her up. And of course, I had assumed you and I would be going together as friends."

Ophelia shrugs. "We probably would have made these plans at some point. It's okay. I didn't say yes to anyone. Not yet, anyway. That could change if I get a better offer than you." She grins slyly at me.

I pretend to be stabbed in the heart. "You've wounded me."

She laughs again, something I wish she'd do more often. Lately things have been too serious, with her nerves about school and always trying to stay ahead.

"You'll dance with me, right?" she asks softly, blushing.

"Of course I will. Moriah will definitely get many better offers than us while we're there. You're probably going to be stuck with me all night."

The thought of Moriah dancing with other guys stabs at my heart for real. But I have to be there for Ophelia more than anything. And I shouldn't care anymore what happens at the dance. It's just a stupid dance and doesn't mean anything.

I WALK INTO SCHOOL early since soccer practice is before homeroom. As I head to my locker I see Trey, enemy number one. He's always trying to one-up me, despite being on the same team. We've both been in the running for team captain, but Trey has done everything he can to make me look bad.

I freeze when I see he's leaning next to Ophelia's locker, talking to her. She's smiling and… and laughing. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ears and there's a flush taking over her face.

I want to storm over there and push him away from her, but that wouldn't be appropriate. Ophelia can handle herself.

She knows I don't like Trey. She's probably just being polite.

I watch the conversation continue. When Ophelia hands Trey her phone, I realize he's putting his number in it. Why the heck does she need his number?

Trey walks away, waving to her. He's heading to soccer practice, same as me. I want to ask Ophelia what's going on, but she's heading off to the library before I finish closing my locker.

I get to practice on the field. Everyone is doing their warm-ups. I charge up to Trey and shove him.

He shoves me back. "What the hell, Atlas?"

"Why were you talking to Ophelia?"

His anger gives way to a smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I'm about to push him again, but Coach Rodgers blows the whistle, meaning we all have to line up.

Trey shoves me with his shoulder. "You can't hold claim on the two hottest girls in school, Atlas. It's not my fault you've been hoarding Moriah. If you cared so much about Ophelia, maybe you shouldn't have chosen the wrong girl."

I have no idea what he's talking about. I want to question him, but it's time for practice.

Ophelia and Moriah are both just my friends. I don't care if they date other people.